“He was a good man.” Sailors all over the world have often said this when speaking of King Harald V of Norway. He was not only a passionate and successful sailor in many different disciplines – such as on the Olympic stage, in offshore racing with his racing yacht named ‘Fram’ (meaning ‘forward’) or before the end of this decade, with his eight-oared boat ‘Sira’ in the metre class.
King Harald V: an approachable monarch who loved sailing
King Harald V of Norway was also committed to the sport of sailing for almost his entire life, serving as both a passionate and dedicated ambassador and patron. He was always approachable and, as well as having a keen understanding of the sport, was blessed with a wonderful sense of humour. Whilst many a team back then was already turning up in stylish sponsored kit, it was his ‘Fram’ crews whose outfits were hard to beat when it came to casual cool.
At major regattas such as the Admiral’s Cup or World Championships, his crew members usually stayed on the accompanying state yacht, the “Norge”. When they were then ferried across to the regatta harbour in the morning by smartly dressed marines in an open sloop, the contrast with the ‘casually’ dressed sailors was plain to see.
Following the death of King Harald V of Norway, World Sailing is today paying tribute to the sailing monarch. A statement read: “On behalf of the global sailing community, World Sailing mourns the loss of our highly esteemed Honorary President, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.” We are publishing World Sailing’s obituary here:
King Harald V was much more than just a patron of sailing
King Harald was far more than just a patron of our sport; he was one of its most accomplished, passionate and consistent figures. As a sailor of international standing, His Majesty represented Norway at three consecutive Olympic Games – in Tokyo in 1964, where he carried the Norwegian flag at the opening ceremony, in Mexico City in 1968 and in Munich in 1972 – competing in the 5.5-metre and Soling classes. He also opened the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994.
His fighting spirit and his skill on the water shaped his entire life. Among the highlights of his remarkable sailing career were a silver medal at the 1982 World Championships, a gold medal at the 1987 One-Ton World Championship aboard the ‘Fram X’, and a bronze medal at the 1988 World Championship. He also won gold at the 2005 European Championships in the Sira class and finished sixth at the 2007 World Championships.
Furthermore, he came third at the 2018 World Championships, and in 2022 – at the age of 85 – he competed against the world’s best sailors and finished 10th at the 8-metre World Championships in Geneva.
A successful sailor and honorary president with a broad outlook
Beyond his impressive list of honours, King Harald embodied the true spirit of seafaring: integrity, sportsmanship and a lifelong commitment to the ocean. His leadership as Honorary President of World Sailing – a role he took on in 1994 as the successor to his late father, King Olav V – enriched the federation with invaluable wisdom and guided our organisation’s efforts to promote inclusion, youth participation and marine conservation worldwide.
Quanhai Li, President of World Sailing, said: “His Majesty King Harald V had a commanding presence on the water, where he competed alongside generations of sailors, representing both his country and his sport with dignity and distinction. His legacy is a powerful reminder of the unique camaraderie that characterises our sport. And everyone at World Sailing is grateful to him for his support throughout his tenure as Honorary President. His Majesty’s legacy will remain forever enshrined in the sport and in the hearts of sailors around the world. He will be sorely missed.”
Farewell to a ‘deeply beloved’ king
Guro Steine, President of the Norwegian Sailing Federation, said: “On behalf of the Norwegian Sailing Federation, I would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of His Majesty, the King of Norway. Norway has lost a deeply beloved King, and the sailing community in Norway has lost one of its most important ambassadors. Throughout his long life, King Harald was an accomplished sailor with a genuine passion for the sport, which inspired generations.”
Guro Steine went on to write: “For us in the sailing community, he was not just our king; he was one of us. He shared our joy in the wind, the sea and unforgettable sailing experiences. On the regatta course and in the harbour, he treated people with warmth, curiosity and respect. And we found him to be exceptionally down-to-earth and approachable. He was a king with a passion for sailing, but also one of us.
“His Majesty, the King of Norway, was the first president of the Norwegian Sailing Federation when it was founded in 1970. His importance to both the Norwegian and international sailing communities cannot be overstated. Through his commitment, he helped to promote the sport, foster a sense of pride and community, and secure a special place for sailing in the Norwegian national consciousness. We shall remember him with deep gratitude and respect. Our thoughts are with Her Majesty the Queen, the Royal Family and all those who are mourning today the loss of a remarkable king and an exceptional fellow human being.”
World Sailing extends its deepest condolences to Her Majesty Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, the Norwegian Royal Family and the Norwegian people.